Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-02-04
civil Service in the Senate.

In the Senate yesterday an assault was
made upon civil.service reform, and al
though no result was reached, it provoked
one of the sharpest debates OF the present
session. The subject came up on reso-
luton calling upon the Secretary Of the In
terror for in formation as to whether there is
any rule of his department applied III the
pension bureau, whereby an applicant for
pension is denied hearing concerning his
claim by reason Of said applicant having
petitioned Congress for relief.
Mr.. Salisbury, of Delaware, as stated
ia Yesterdays GAZETTE, made Wig
orous attack on the Presidents civil service
reform policy, and Insisted that the admin
istration should be in the hands Of its
friends. He referred to the large number of
republicans who have been retained in
Office, when there were plenty of intelligent
democrats ready and willing to fill the po-
stions of trust now filled by political ene-
mics and persons not in harmony with the
administration.
Senator Plumb declared that the Presi.
dent could rely upon him to vote to turn all
the republicans now in Office out, bat it
looks as though competent democrats can
not be found to take their places.
Senator Morgan, OF Alabama, charged
that there are now in the departments at
Washington republican spies, rings and
cliques, who keep their party friends fully
| informed on all questions of administration
and policy. He said there were men in the
Senate to day who are perhaps better in
formed about what was going on in the
Treasury Department than Secretary Man
ming. Mr.. Morgan referred to the present
superintendent o. the railway mail service,
Mr.. Jameson, as republican with several
thousand persons under him, nine.tenths OF
whom are said 10 be republicans. He re-.
preached the administration for continuing
in Office such man when there were so
many men in the democratic party who are
brighton and equally as efficient as the in.
cumbent. He then proceeded TO eulogize
| the democratic party as being composed Of
men of more refinement and intelligence,
and of higher principles than could be found
in the republican party, and quoted the last
Census to verify his statement.
Senator Plumb interrupted the speaker to
ask why, if there were so many intelligent
and brilliant men in the democratic party,
the President has passed them by and re-
tanned in office republican ecalawags, as had
been alleged. He reproached some Of the
Southern States South Carolina in particu-
lar, for only casting some thirty odd thous-
and votes for all other Congressman, where
as Kansas, which has the same number OF
representatives, polled 100000 votes. This,
he said, indicted lack of interest in select
ing the men who were to represent them in
Congress.
Senator Beck declared that there was no
lack of interest in public affairs go far as
his State is concerned, and explained the
small number of votes cast by saying that
men like Col. Beckinridge, of Kentucky,
were 80 popular that no republican was put
up against him, consequently the vote was
small Mr.. Beck also referred to MIR.
Jameson's retention at the head of the
railway mail service, and charged that
Jameson was interested in retaining in
office such men as would oppose the admin
istration, to the exclusion of honest and
faithful democrats Mr. Beck, with consid-
cradle emphasis, said he was obliged to take
his nat in his hand like beggar and go TO
this man Jameson and request him to re.
move certain persons and appoint demo.
Gratis and when asked why the change was
desired ne dare not tell him. because Mr..
Jameson was interested in keeping these
men in Office for the opposite reason that
he (Mr. Beck wanted them removed. He
said this was delightful predicament for
democratic Senator under democratic adj
minislration to be placed in.
Senator Plumb asked if the present Post
master. General is helpless and added that
the administration lacked the courage of
conviction to turn the republicans out.
The morning hour having expired the
matter went over until to-day.
|